@Pete ******

Yes, his good.

@Charlie ********

And yet here you are, judging those who judge.

@David *********

That’s irrelevant and, frankly, not my job to teach them how to read a US tax return. Nor do I care if they can read it. A US tax return is the official proof of income and taxes paid—there’s no other documentation proving the aforementioned unless they want to call the IRS themselves. I pay all my US taxes, and since there are no additional taxes owed in Thailand, that’s the only part that matters. Not sure what you’re trying to imply here.

@David *********

It’s not difficult to prove that you don’t have to pay taxes in Thailand if you’re a US resident who has already filed and paid taxes in the US, which is required anyway. I’ve been filing my US tax returns for over 20 years and have never been audited. There are many software programs designed specifically for this purpose that go through everything, including sections on foreign income and taxes. Once filed, you have all the necessary forms to prove you’ve already paid your taxes.

I’m in Thailand indefinitely because I’m married to a Thai wife, and I’m not worried about taxes here because I’ve already paid them in the US. Since there’s no remaining rate to be paid in Thailand, it’s a non-issue. I don’t even need to look it up to know that my income, taxed at nearly 40% in the US, isn’t going to be taxed again in Thailand.

@Charlie ********

Says the troll. I can only conclude that you’ve been denied entry before.

@Charlie ********

Yes, he clearly implies it when he mentions planning to ‘try again in March to set himself up for Songkran.’ That suggests he believes his situation is different enough to warrant a different outcome, despite immigration already denying him entry for abusing the visa system. Expecting a different result without addressing the root issue—frequent visa runs—is essentially asking for an exception.

What you’re doing is likely seen as abusing the visa system, which is why you were denied entry. Immigration is cracking down on this—it’s hard for everyone, not just you. Why should you be an exception? Get the proper visa if you plan to stay long-term, or you risk being sent back again.

@Luit ****************

I never claimed that most foreigners living in Thailand are remote workers with salaried jobs, but many are—myself included. Especially Americans. I’m an engineer, and I can tell you that an overwhelming percentage of jobs in my field went fully remote after the pandemic. Others have some sort of earned income as well. The reason I keep bringing the US into the conversation is that the original poster is American. Different countries have different tax rules, laws, and job landscapes. However, I’d argue that most Americans living in Thailand permanently still earn income from the US, whether through investments, salaries, or other sources.

For us Americans, the tax situation can be complex. Even if you’re living and working in Thailand, you are still subject to US taxation on your worldwide income because the US is one of the few countries with citizenship-based taxation. Thailand will tax you on income earned within Thailand, but thanks to the US-Thailand tax treaty, you can avoid double taxation through mechanisms like the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE), foreign tax credits, or deductions for taxes paid to Thailand.

For example, if you earn a salary in Thailand, you would file and pay Thai taxes first. Then, when filing your US taxes, you could use the foreign tax credits to offset the taxes you already paid to Thailand. However, for passive income like capital gains, dividends, or interest, the rules can differ. The US will generally tax you on those, even if Thailand doesn’t. So, while Thailand will tax you on local income, the US can still tax you on the remainder, depending on the type and source of income.

@David *********

Where did I ever say that one doesn’t need to pay taxes in Thailand if the difference in the rate taxed there is higher, or that one never has to file a tax return in Thailand? You’re blatantly putting words in my mouth, which, sadly, has become all too typical of bitter expats here in Thailand. Instead of contributing meaningfully, you’re cherry-picking irrelevant examples and completely disregarding the original poster’s situation.

Most people don’t live off long-term capital gains. They rely on regular jobs with salaries that are already taxed at 30% or more, depending on the state and city they reside in. For the majority of Americans earning typical income, there would be no additional tax owed in Thailand. It’s really that simple.

Furthermore, your claims about long-term capital gains are incorrect. If you want to be precise (which you’re clearly not), long-term capital gains in the US are taxed at 0%, 15%, or 20%, depending on income level, filing status, and other factors. So not only are you misinformed, but you’re also presenting your argument in bad faith. Address the facts instead of twisting words and providing misleading information.

@David *********

I’m misinformed? - Talk about irony. If you’re going to call someone out for being misinformed, at least back it up with details and evidence to prove your point. You’ve done none of that. Where did I ever claim that the DTA isn’t about tax credits? I’ve said repeatedly that the whole point of the DTA is to prevent double taxation—end of story.

If you’ve already paid your taxes in the US on income earned there, you won’t have to pay taxes in Thailand. Why? Because US-sourced income is taxed by the IRS, often at rates as high as 35-40%, leaving no additional tax liability in Thailand. And yes, this effectively absolves you from paying Thai taxes on that income.

What’s the actual difference between getting a tax credit and saying you don’t owe taxes in Thailand? There isn’t one—the result is exactly the same: you don’t pay taxes in Thailand on income that’s already been taxed in the US. It’s a simple concept. Honestly, people like you love to overcomplicate things and argue for no reason. At the end of the day, US citizens can’t be taxed twice on the same income. End of story.